South Korean authorities detained eight members of the Korean Progressive University Student Union (KPUSU) on Tuesday after they attempted to enter a US air base south of Seoul.
The incident occurred at the K-55 Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, located approximately 60 kilometers south of Seoul. Six students entered the base compound while two others were stopped at the entrance, according to reports.
The detained group, consisting of four males and four females, shouted anti-US slogans, including “Let’s smash US 7th Air Force”. US Forces Korea (USFK) detained the group before handing them over to South Korean police for investigation.
Investigation and protest motives
South Korean police stated the students invoked their right to remain silent during questioning. They are being investigated under a law protecting military installations in South Korea.
The KPUSU stated the protest was linked to the US military's opposition to a proposed semiconductor manufacturing cluster project in Gwangju. The South Korean government has designated a military airport in Gwangju as the site for this semiconductor chip production hub.
The US military has expressed concerns that relocating the Gwangju military airport could affect its military interests. The student group also cited a recent white phosphorus leak at Osan Air Base as a reason for the demonstration.
Unauthorised attempts to access a US military installation are taken extremely seriously
The US military presence in South Korea is a legacy of the 1950 to 1953 Korean War, which ended with an armistice. There are approximately 28,500 US troops currently stationed in South Korea.
